Issue DEFGENERIC-METHOD-COMBINATION-NAME
Issue: DEFGENERIC-METHOD-COMBINATION-NAME

Forum: Editorial

References: DEFGENERIC

Category: CLARIFICATION/CHANGE

Edit history: 2004-07-20, Version 1 by Bruno Haible

Status: For CLiki consideration

Problem Description:

The BNF syntax of DEFGENERIC refers to "method-combination"; however, the "Arguments and Values:" section defines a nonterminal "method-combination-name" but no nonterminal "method-combination". Thus it is not clear whether a method-combination object could be used here, or only a symbol.

Proposal (DEFGENERIC-METHOD-COMBINATION-NAME:ONLY-SYMBOL):

Change the BNF syntax to refer to "method-combination-name" instead of "method-combination".

Test case:

Rationale:

There is no need to put method-combination objects in DEFGENERIC forms.

Current practice:

All implementations allow a symbol name here. SB-PCL gives an error when the argument is not a symbol.

Cost to Implementors:

None.

Cost to Users:

None.

Cost of Non-Adoption:

Benefits:

Clarification.

Aesthetics:

Discussion:
  • Bruno Haible supports proposal ONLY-SYMBOL.